154 COOK AND cook: the maho or mahagua 



that has found its way into diction9,ries, is one of the economic 

 plants that appears to have attained a trans-Pacific distribution 

 in prehistoric times. It is a handsome woody shrub or small 

 tree, with large lemon-yellow flowers, a member of the mallow 

 family, a. relative of the cotton plant, the okra, and the holly- 

 hock. The leaves are entire and broadly cordate, much like 

 those of the linden or basswood, a similarity recognized in the 

 name given by Linnaeus, Hibiscus tiliaceiis, or linden hibiscus. 

 Some writers have called it lemon hibiscus and others corkwood. 

 Many botanists have treated the maho as representing a genus 

 distinct from Hibiscus under the name Paritium, though as 

 originally proposed the genus was called Pariti, one of the East 

 Indian vernacular names being adopted by Adanson as the 

 generic designation. 



A source of fiber and fire 



Among the early Polynesians the maho must have been a 

 very important plant, since it affords two indispensable materials 

 and has many incidental uses. The bark contains a strong, 

 flexible fiber adapted to many purposes, tying and binding, 

 building houses and boats, snaring or trapping game, and making 

 bark cloths, nets, mats, baskets, and other equipment of primi- 

 tive life. The wood of the maho has the peculiarity of readily 

 producing fire by friction. The ease with which the natives of 

 Tahiti were able to produce fire from maho wood is remarked 

 by Darwin in the Voyage of the Beagle: 



A light was procured by rubbing a blunt-pointed stick in a groove 

 made in another, as if with intention of deepening it, until by the 

 friction the dust became ignited. A peculiarly white and very light 

 wood (the Hibiscus tiUaceus) is alone used for this purpose; it is the 

 same which serves for poles to carrj^ any burden, and for the floating 

 outriggers to their canoes. The fire was produced in a few seconds; 

 Init to a person who does not understand the art it requires, as I 

 found, the greatest exertion; but at last, to my great pride, I suc- 

 ceeded in igniting the dust. 



The heart-wood of the maho is described in Gill's Jottings, 

 in the Pacific as very tough and durable, fragrant, of a very dark- 



